Feb 06, Colombo: Private bus owners in Sri Lanka have threatened to launch a strike action if the government does not permit them to increase bus fares.

The Private Bus Owners' Association (PBOA) says that the private bus operators would carry out an island wide strike to win their demands.

The PBOA has demanded the government to permit a bus fare hike or to grant the private bus operators a diesel subsidy.

The PBOA has stated that bus fares were increased last February 14th and the private transport authorities have assured a review of bus fares in one year, which would be this month.

Private busses form the major share of the country's public transport sector while the state transport service is yet to upgrade its service.